Do You Have What It Takes? Discover 5 Voice Director Expectations

Congratulations! You have the part. Now, what will the voice director expect from you once you’re in the booth?

1. Be on time (or early!) and bring a great attitude.

I think that says it all.

2. Be versatile.

Prepare a diversified range of voices. Oftentimes the director may still be “finding the voice” of the character. Use your talents to help him or her find it!

Be able to age your voice up or down. This can be tricky to do without sounding fake and forced, so practice to have this skill handy.

Be able to conjure alternate characters on the spot. Be ready if they suddenly change a character completely or add new characters and want new options.

3. Follow direction.

We want someone to take direction, interpret it, stay in character and get the job done. Don’t get frustrated, if you are unclear about something, ask. Even if this means getting the dreaded “line read”. A line read is simply saying: “we have something specific in our head”. We are not trying to undermine your creativity. Use it as a tool and move on.

Even if you were just handed the script, it’s your job to bring the words to life and to not sound like you’re reading. Building a believable character is central to the creative process. You may try something that we haven’t thought of, and we could love it!

5. Prepare.

Read the script, if you have it in advance (you’d be surprised how many actors don’t). Otherwise, try to understand the genre of the project, or the tone of the content. Again, if you have any questions, ask.

The level of ease when working with someone shouldn’t be underestimated. Recording studios are not wide open spaces and it often feels like everyone is jammed together for hours or days at a time. Being flexible, energetic, and friendly will go a very long way!

About Todd ResnickTodd Resnick is CEO at Resnick Interactive, a voice over casting company he started in 2000. Resnick Interactive is a full-service voice over company specializing in voice over casting, voice over directing and voice over production for today’s animation, advertisements and games. With fifteen years in the music production and video game development industries, Todd has been a Business Owner, Pioneer, Teacher, Producer, Engineer, Casting Director and inspirational Team Leader with some of today’s well known companies, networks and publishers including Mattel, Blizzard, Marvel, Simon and Schuster, and many other storied franchises.

Established in 2000 in Los Angeles, CA, Resnick Interactive Group is a voice over production company. Leveraging deep relationships within the voice acting community, we’ve developed high profile strategic alliances with some of the world’s biggest names in animation publishing.

Marita Amott

Good points.

Titia

You have the monopoly on useful information – aren’t monopolies illegal? 😉